Alternative Spaces Likely to Grow in 2018

10/30/2017 |

Report reveals office use trends

Companies are reaching the limit of densification for personal workstations, leading many to emphasize alternative spaces like collaborative areas for meetings and private rooms for individual work, according to a report by architectural and interior design firm Ted Moudis Associates.

The company analyzed the 36 domestic projects it worked on during 2015 and 2016, representing over 2.4 million square feet of workspace and 14,575 workspaces, to gain insights into how companies use office space. In addition to the growth of specialty spaces, the firm also observed an increase in clients opting for activity-based work environments, as well as clients placing a higher priority on spaces that promote health and wellbeing.

“The conversations we’re having today with clients are about how we create the best workplace for their employees,” explains Jamie Feuerborn, Director of Workplace Strategy. “It’s much less about how many people they can fit in the space, but rather how they can offer employees choices in how and where they work.”

Insights for 2018 in the report include:

In 2017, alternative seating took up 52% of the workspace covered in the study. This space type is likely to increase in popularity, particularly quiet rooms and individual spaces that support focus work.

About 21.5% of seating was amenity-driven in 2017. Companies are likely to increase the number of amenity spaces targeting employee wellbeing.

Company cultures will become increasingly aligned with activity-based work environments.